𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Brexiteers have been warned that Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister poses a “seismic threat” to Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union.

But the prospect of Mr Burnham, a committed Remainer who as recently as last year declared he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU, reaching No10 has sent a chill through the Leave movement.

Former MEP David Campbell-Bannerman warned that Mr Burnham was a far more dangerous opponent than Sir Keir, possessing a “revolutionary zeal” that pro-Brexit campaigners must now confront head-on.

He said Brexiteers needed to “unite and sell Brexit opportunities harder”, as well as rebut a “ridiculous pile up” of what he branded “Project Mislead” claims – arguments he said were “grounded on fiction and dishonesty rather than fact”.

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Brexiteer MPs, struck a similarly defiant tone.

He said: “It would be churlish not to congratulate Andy Burnham on a clear victory in Makerfield – but that doesn’t give him a mandate to press for his long-held desire to rejoin the EU, especially as he publicly backtracked on that issue during the campaign.”

Sixty six per cent of people living in the Makerfield seat voted to leave the EU. Mr Burnham has said that rejoining was “not on the ballot” this election, but has previously said he wants to see the UK rejoin in his lifetime.

Mr Francois added: “I don’t know if Andy Burnham will ever become PM – but I do know he’d be very foolish to ever try and return us to the tutelage of Brussels.”

Mr Burnham dramatically rowed back on his pro-EU stance during the campaign, in a constituency that voted heavily to Leave, insisting he respected the result of the referendum.

The Daily Express has proudly campaigned for Brexit since 2010, when it became the first national newspaper to call for Britain to quit the EU – a crusade backed by hundreds of thousands of readers.